Sardines are always great! Never had a bad can. But I can admit that in The Netherlands most peeps think of it as canned tuna (which is disgusting except that premium priced stuff, but then I prefer fresh). I can totally see why the South has a thing for it, it easy to keep fresh (imagine traveling from the sea into the country back in the days, no fishy would stay fresh). Sour-Herring is also a nice thing, though it's mostly sold in glass.